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hesitated as he thought of the creature in the rigging. “I heard it was once called the City of Jinnis.”
    Uma nodded. “That’s right.”
    Sharat swallowed, but he couldn’t help feeling curious.
    “What
are
jinnis exactly?” he asked.
    Uma’s eyes shone. “Jinnis are the spirits of the forest,” she told him. “Every tree has its own spirit, but unlike human beings, these spirits can leave their bodies andtake on other forms.”
    Sharat thought of all the forests he’d travelled through with the circus. “If that’s true, why haven’t I ever seen one?” he asked.
    Uma shook her head. “Nobody can see jinnis any more,” she said. “Long ago, they drew a veil between their world, Aruanda, and our own. Now the only thing that connects the two worlds is the trees.”
    “But there are no trees in the City of Jewels,” Sharat pointed out.
    Uma sighed. “Not any more,” she said, “but it hasn’t always been like this. There was a time, not so long ago, when the city was surrounded by forests. In those days there was a walled garden at the centre of town, where Shergarh is now. They say that this garden was the home of the Queen of the Jinnis, the Queen of the Forest.”
    Sharat felt himself being drawn into Uma’s story despite himself.
    “What happened?” he asked.
    Uma’s face darkened.
    “About twelve years ago, somebody found a way into Aruanda and unleashed the forces of evil,” she told him. She shuddered. “For one day and one night, demons over-ran the city, cutting down the trees. And once they had finished with the gardens they started on the forests.”
    “But why?” demanded Sharat.
    “To enslave the jinnis,” Uma explained. “Without their trees, the jinnis have no way of returning to Aruanda. That’s why the Empire is so rich. Only jinnis know howto find the jewels that are buried under the city.”
    Sharat didn’t know what to think. He’d always heard that jinnis were evil, malicious creatures, but Uma was painting quite a different picture.
    “What’s all this got to do with my tiger?” he asked.
    “In the middle of the upheaval I was called in to help a woman who had gone into labour,” Uma told him. “After she’d given birth she gave me a tiger-cub and asked me to smuggle her out of the city.”
    “Emira!” exclaimed Sharat.
    Uma nodded. “Yes, Emira,” she said. “That’s when I gave her to Lemo. I had travelled with the circus and I knew he would take good care of her.”
    “But why was she in danger?” asked Sharat with a frown.
    Uma lowered her voice. “Aruanda wasn’t just home to the spirits of the trees,” she told him. “There were other creatures that lived there too – magical creatures with mysterious powers. I believe Emira is one of these.”
    Sharat stared at her. “Are you trying to tell me Emira’s a jinni?” he asked.
    Uma tilted her head. “Something like that,” she said.
    “But Emira can’t be a jinni,” protested Sharat. “She’s been with me since she was a cub. I would know if she had any special powers.”
    “Really?” said Uma quietly. “Are you sure?”
    Sharat hesitated. He looked down at Emira. She looked back at him, her wild eyes burning with a strange light, and suddenly he wasn’t so sure at all. He swallowed.
    “Do you think she’s still in danger?” he asked.
    Uma’s face was grim. “I’m sure of it,” she said. “The demons are determined to wipe out any trace of Aruanda. If they find out about Emira, they’ll want to destroy her too.”
    Suddenly Sharat thought of the creature in the rigging. “I think I’ve seen a demon!” he said. “Last night, at the circus.”
    Uma’s eyes flashed. “In that case there’s no time to waste,” she said, getting to her feet.
    “But what am I going to do?” said Sharat in alarm.
    Uma hobbled over to the door. “Go back to the circus and tell Lemo you have to get out of the city,” she said. “It’s your only hope.”
    With a growl, Emira jumped